A Pilatus PC-24; the type that will be leased to the WA Police Air Wing. Picture: Flickr
THE WA Government is to spend nearly $16m to lease a twin-engine jet for the police and upgrade its air wing fleet.
The government says $15.8m will be spent over four years to lease a Pilatus PC-24 jet and upgrade the wing’s Pilatus PC-12 fleet
The new twin-engine jet will cut current travel times in half and can land on unsealed airstrips in outback WA, a government statement says.
It means specialist police from Perth can be on the ground in Kununurra around three hours faster. A fully loaded PC-12 aircraft (single-engine turboprop) would take up to six hours on the same route and need to stop to refuel.
WA Police Minister Paul Papalia says the jet will be the police force’s fastest ever aircraft.
“Time is critical when it comes responding to emergencies and solving crime.
“I want to arm our police force with the best tools on the global market to get the job done,” he says.
“WA is a vast state and remains the largest non-federal law enforcement jurisdiction in the world.”
Mr Papalia says the funding is in addition to a rollout of satellite communications to 129 stations and 550 vehicles across regional and remote WA.
WA Deputy Police Commissioner Kylie Whiteley says the new jet “represents a significant enhancement in aerial response capability”.
“As the state’s population continues to grow, including in regional and remote parts, the range of incidents being responded to are expected to become more diverse and require more specialist support from Perth-based units,” she says.
“This enhanced capability means we can send more officers to where they are needed – faster, safer and with the right equipment to do their job of keeping the community safe.”
The Pilatus PC-24 jet can carry eight officers and cargo including policing equipment, evidence and emergency supplies.
Delivery of the jet to the WA Police is due sometime in 2026.
